“The jawline could potentially be the new waistline,” remarks New York City board-certified plastic surgeon Dr. Ryan Neinstein. And it’s indeed the case – everyone, from women passionately pursuing a defined, robust jawline that could slice through anything to incels striving their utmost to resemble the Chads they both envy and detest, desires jawline shaping and definition. Many of the filters on Instagram and Snapchat aid in crafting that enviable Disney prince (or princess) chiseled profile, but if you’re in search of effective real-life solutions, keep on reading.
How to obtain a better jawline with cosmetic treatments
Liposuction combined with skin tightening
“An aesthetically pleasing neck features a clearly delineated jaw and a gentle curvature of the neck skin and fat,” clarifies Dr. Neinstein. (This not only constitutes the most visually appealing aspect but also contributes to the most youthful look.) “It doesn’t need to be so taut that a patient appears like a lollipop to achieve an excellent outcome.” His favored treatment approach is minimally invasive liposculpting of the chin and neck, employing both VASER and J-plasma fat-melting and skin-tightening technologies. “I favor this over traditional liposuction or Kybella because the results are more remarkable, more foreseeable, and involve less recovery time,” he elaborates. Dr. Adam Kolker, a New York City board-certified plastic surgeon, states that submental (under-chin) liposuction with radiofrequency assisted lipectomy (RFAL, FaceTite) is ideal for patients with mild or moderate excess fat beneath the chin and jawline.
Injectable filler
Dr. Kolker adds that the most effective way to define the jawline is to establish a distinction between the jawline and the neck. “Although filler is not permanent, it can last for approximately one year,” he mentions. He further adds that for those who are hesitant about surgical implants, filler is an excellent choice for patients to obtain a sense of enhanced appearance in these areas and consider surgery at a later stage. Consider it as “trial surgery.” “Hyaluronic acid dermal fillers [Juvéderm, Restylane] can be reversed/dissolved promptly if necessary, making them highly versatile and adjustable,” Dr. Kolker remarks.
For Dr. Neinstein, it’s about achieving a smooth look for the jaw, and he achieves this by adding filler after conducting liposculpting on the jawbone. He utilizes either Restylane or Radiesse; the latter is a biostimulatory filler that primarily operates by stimulating the long-term production of collagen. It offers more of a lifting and sculpting effect, as opposed to the sheer volume obtained from HA fillers. “I commence at the corner of the mandible and proceed a few inches upward to the ear and a few inches forward to the mouth,” he says. He adds that while implants remain excellent options, he tends to select them for reconstructive patients or those with severe abnormalities. For more subtle adjustments, he prefers dermal fillers. The latter enables him to modify and adjust appearances effortlessly as patients’ preferences change.
Chin implants
Atlanta board-certified surgeon Dr. Pravin Reddy notes that chin implants are a potent means of attaining facial balance and work effectively in combination with rhinoplasty for certain patients. Chin implants are composed of silicone and, although they involve plastic surgery, they can be inserted using a scar-free method. Nevertheless, he also relies on fillers. “I sometimes employ temporary fillers to augment the chin to provide a preview of the final result before the patient commits to surgical chin enhancement,” Dr. Reddy says. Dr. Neinstein indicates that implants are outstanding options, though he tends to choose them for reconstructive patients or those with severe irregularities.
Kybella
Kybella is a minimally invasive method for creating a more distinct jawline and functions by treating fat beneath the chin. Dr. Reddy points out that the injection is a compound that “dissolves” fat by destroying fat cells, and once destroyed, these cells can no longer store or accumulate fat. This leads to a notable reduction in excessive fat and fullness under the chin, revealing an improved chin profile. The treatment is designed to enhance the contour of the neck and chin. “It typically requires a sequence of three or four treatments and may cause swelling and inflammation,” Dr. Reddy states.
Botox
Botox is yet another injectable that can be utilized to assist in shaping the jawline. The primary reason for injecting Botox into the jaw muscles is to alleviate TMJ and/or jaw pain by relaxing the masseter muscle that connects the lower jawbone and cheekbone. “Masseter muscle hypertrophy [or enlargement] is a common source of excessive stress on the jaw joint,” explains Dr. Anil Shah, a board-certified plastic surgeon in Chicago. “Botox can reduce the force exerted by this muscle on the joint and provide relief.” The aesthetic side effect is a slimming of the jawline, particularly when it’s a highly muscular jawline; the Botox causes the muscle to atrophy, resulting in a loss of mass.
Bear in mind that Botox injections in the jaw area can be costly, considering the significant number of units required to treat this larger muscle. (Injections are usually administered anywhere from the lower jaw to upward towards the ear and temple.) Results can persist for up to six months, although over time you may require less Botox to achieve a similar outcome.
Neck lift
The ultimate jawline-defining procedure, a neck lift can raise sagging skin, eliminate excess fat, and tighten the platysma muscle – effectively eliminating “turkey neck” and making the area appear years younger. Neck lifts are frequently performed in conjunction with a facelift, brow lift, or other facial surgeries, which makes it considerably more expensive than non-surgical solutions, but the results typically last 10 to 15 years.
How to achieve a sharper jawline without cosmetic treatments
Do jawline exercises work?
In a nutshell, yes, and they can be a favorable option that doesn’t necessitate a doctor at all. More precisely, “Face yoga is an excellent, natural way to help you either regain or maintain a youthful look,” says Koko Hayashi, a face yoga instructor and the founder of Koko Face Yoga. (It’s particularly effective for jawline and lower face shaping; more on this shortly.) And while it can easily serve as a standalone solution, she adds that it’s also a pleasant complement to in-office procedures. “Undergo your medical treatments, then return home and perform face yoga for maintenance,” she remarks.
Hayashi was born in Japan, where this type of facial exercise has been prevalent for decades. A chin implant removal at the age of 27 left her chin misshapen and uneven, so she turned to face yoga to assist in reshaping her face. The impressive results motivated her to start posting YouTube videos of face yoga movements; she has since accumulated more than 20 million views and counts celebrities, including Kim Kardashian, among her clients.
The principle behind face yoga is straightforward: The objective is to invigorate the ‘dormant’ muscles in the face, which often remain idle and don’t move much, while simultaneously relaxing the overworked muscles, explains Hayashi. Specifically in relation to the jawline, you need to awaken the cheek muscles and relax the depressor anguli oris muscles at the sides of the mouth; doing this concurrently creates an uplifted appearance of the cheek and jaw, she adds.
Similarly, whenever your face is at rest, there should always be a small gap between your upper and lower teeth. This can significantly alleviate the tension on overworked masseter muscles that can eventually lead to jowls, she explains. Finally, focus on slightly raising the corners of your mouth. “If you’re not consciously thinking about it, they tend to droop. Consciously elevating them even a millimeter helps keep the cheeks lifted and creates the illusion of a sharper jawline,” she says.
Cheek squat : Make an “oh” sound, followed by an “ah” sound, then smile widely so that your eight top teeth are visible and rest them on your bottom lip. Hold the position for 10 seconds, relax, and repeat two to three times. This helps to activate and lift the resting cheek muscles, making everything below, including the jaw, appear more uplifted, explains Hayashi.
Tongue stretch: Roll your shoulders backward three times then push them down and slowly tilt your head back, looking upward. Close your eyes and stick your tongue all the way to the ceiling, hold for 10 seconds, and repeat two to three times. This is an excellent way to help eliminate the appearance of a double chin, says Hayashi (although she cautions against this movement if you have any neck pain).
So precisely how do you do this? Follow these three straightforward face yoga movements.
Resting face posture: “The positioning of your facial muscles when they’re at rest is the most crucial aspect of face yoga,” says Hayashi. First and foremost, she recommends keeping your tongue pushed against the roof of your mouth at all times. Unless you’re speaking, eating, or drinking, your tongue should be pushed upward, she says. “Look at your face from the side. As soon as you push your tongue upward, it instantly lifts everything and reduces the appearance of a double chin. It’s like instant Kybella,” she states.
Does chewing gum assist your jawline?
While the Internet is abundant with claims that regular gum chewing is a method to enhance your jawline, approach those assertions with caution. One small study did demonstrate that chewing gum for five minutes twice a day for four weeks strengthened people’s bite force, which is partially influenced by the strength of the masseter (jaw) muscles. However, another study indicated that gum chewing affected the tongue and cheek muscles more than anything else. Regardless, it won’t have any impact on the other underlying structures that contribute to the shape of your jawline, such as bone and fat.
